Cedar Hill Collegiate High School Senior College Guide

1. Cedar Hill Collegiate High School Senior College Guide Beyond High School Presented by dr. lawandan.evans Friday, September 6, 2013

2. Collegiate Counselor - Dr. Evans *Mississippi Valley State University* Bachelor of Science (B.S.) History *Texas Southern University* Master of Education (M.Ed.) Counselor Education *Argosy University* Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) Counseling Psychology

3. Contact Information Dr. Evans Collegiate Counselor Lawanda.evans@chisd.net 469-272-2021

4. Hours and Location Collegiate High School Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays 7:30 a.m. – 4:15 p.m. Cedar Valley College Tuesdays & Thursdays – 7:45 a.m. – 4:15 p.m.

5. Keys to a Successful Senior Year

6. Three Keys to a Successful Senior Year • Be Organized • Be Responsible • Be Punctual

7. How to Achieve Success • Get things done early • Meet all deadlines • Keep a calendar • Check econnect often • Visit with Dr. Evans, your professors, etc

8. How to Achieve Success • Keep a file • Make and keep copies of everything • Meet with college reps when they come to visit • Keep good grades • Understand and know your transcript • Keep your address, phone number, and email address updated • Practice writing your college essay • Ask questions (no question is a dumb question)

9. SENIORSSSSSSS!!!! YOUR CALENDAR CHECKLIST

10. Seniors: Pathway to College • Meet with college reps when they come to the school • Choose your top 5 schools • Visit the schools of your choice • Work on your admission/scholarship essay • Take the ACT/SAT • Complete the Apply Texas or Common App profile and/or application • Submit your college application by Nov. 1 • Complete the NCAA profile, if applicable

11. Seniors: Your Pathway to College • Step 1: Research colleges and universities • Step 2: Start working on college/scholarship essays • Step 3: Choose the top five schools of choice • Step 4: Prepare and Plan to take the ACT/SAT • Step 5: Create an ACT or SAT profile

12. Seniors: Your Pathway to College • Step 6: Register and Take the ACT or SAT • Step 7: Create an Apply Texas profile at www.applytexas.org; if out of state complete on the school’s website or common application • Step 8: COMPLETE and SUBMIT the Apply Texas college application online • Step 9: RESEARCH and APPLY for available scholarships on the school’s website

13. Seniors: Your Pathway to College • Step 10: RESEARCH and APPLY for local scholarships • Step 11: Wait on acceptance letters • Step 12: Complete and apply for financial aid between January – February • Step 13: Wait on acceptance letters

14. Seniors: Your Reminders • Start working on your college/scholarship essays • Create an ACT or SAT profile • Register for and take the ACT or SAT • Create an Apply Texas profile at www.applytexas.org • Complete your Apply Texas application online • Submit your Apply Texas application online • Research and apply for scholarships online and locally

15. SENIORS – VERY IMPORTANT • Register for the ACT/SAT, complete scholarship application and financial aid application, etc. (VERY IMPORTANT) • Let Dr. Evans know which college/university you have been accepted into. Bring me a copy of your acceptance letter, send me an email, or verbally let me know.

16. September • Visit with Dr. Evans • Register for the ACT/SAT • Attend College Night at CHHS • Choose your 5 colleges you would like to attend • Apply to the colleges of your choice by November 1. • Come to all college representatives sessions • Search for scholarships online • Register for the ACT/SAT

17. October/November • Visit the college of your choice • Search for scholarships online • Ask for letters of recommendations, if required • Come to all college representative sessions • Complete college applications • Submit/mail all college applications by Thanksgiving, along with a copy of your transcript • Check all deadlines • Review the scholarship book for information

18. December/January • Start reviewing and become familiar with the FAFSA • Bring your college acceptance letters and scholarship letters to Dr. evans • Apply for a FAFSA pin for you and one for your parent • Start working on FAFSA application • Research scholarships online

19. February • Complete FAFSA application • Continue to apply for scholarships • Watch for important deadlines • Bring your college acceptance letters and scholarship letters to dr. evans

20. March – May • Continue to apply for scholarships • Watch for important deadlines • Complete and submit FAFSA • Watch for acceptance letters and financial aid award letters • Attend Financial Aid Night • Bring your college acceptance letters and scholarship letters to dr. evans BE SURE TO LET ME KNOW YOUR COLLEGE CHOICE

21. College Testing ACT & SAT

22. FEE WAIVERS • SAT – 4 Fee Waivers (2 for the SAT and 2 for the SAT Subject Test) • ACT – 2 Fee Waivers • If you receive a fee waiver for the SAT or ACT you will qualify for a college application fee waiver. • Waivers have to be used during your Junior or Senior Year/or one during your junior year and the other during your senior year. (please see me for more clarification) • If you receive a fee waiver for the SAT or ACT you will qualify for a fee waiver for the NCAA application.

23. College Testing • ACT • www.actstudent.org • Fee waiver available for qualified students • Needed for 4 year universities • SAT • www.collegeboard.com • Fee waiver available for qualified students • Needed for 4 year universities

24. ACT • College admission test • Based on information you are learning in high school • Test questions in four content areas: English, mathematics, reading, and science • Accepted by all four-year colleges and universities • Writing test is optional – not all colleges/universities require a writing test

25. ACT Dates Register at: www.actstudent.org/

26. SAT • College admission test • Based on information you are learning in high school • Measures reading, writing, and math skills • SAT Subject Test – Math, Science, History, Literature, and Languages

27. SAT Dates Register at: Collegeboard.org

28. Scholarships

29. Scholarships • www.scholarships.com • www.collegexpress.com • www.collegeanswer.com • www.collegeguidanceconsultants.com • Visit the College and Career Center for more information on scholarships

30. College Research

31. Websites for Applying to College • Apply Texas Application Online www.applytexas.org • Common Application Online www.commomapp.org • Universal College Application Online www.universalcollegeapp.com

32. College Research & Important Websites • www.collegeboard.org • www.actstudent.org • www.Gentx.org • www.utexas.edu/world/univ/alpha • www.careersandcolleges.com • http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ • http://www.pin.ed.gov • http://federalstudentaid.ed.gov/ • http://www.collegeforalltexans.com/

33. Reminders Again • Complete your college application by November 1. • Take the ACT/SAT • Apply for scholarships • Complete your FAFSA by February • Research scholarships • Visit with college representatives when they are on campus • Bring your acceptance letter to Dr. Evans

34. QUESTIONS